from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Milton, ON — When the 2-year-old trotting fillies returned to Woodbine Mohawk Park for their third Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series event on Friday evening (Aug. 10), driver Jody Jamieson had an opportunity to make amends for a decision he made in the July 15 season opener.

In that event Jamieson chose Shesa Sweetheart over Cambridge Kate and watched as the filly he had qualified and driven in one overnight event swept to victory with Louis Philippe Roy in the race bike while he settled for fourth with the pacesetting fan favorite. With Shesa Sweetheart absent from Friday’s contest trainer Carl Jamieson chose to give his son a second chance at steering Cambridge Kate and the reinsman took full advantage of the opportunity, guiding the filly to her second straight Gold victory.

“I made the right choice this time,” Jamieson quipped. “Actually, I didn’t have any choice so I was happy that Dad gave me the call on her tonight.”

New Image Media photo

Jody Jamieson piloted 2-year-old trotting filly Cambridge Kate to her second Gold Series win, stopping the timer in a personal best 1:57.3.

Starting from post eight the pair trotted strongly away from the start and settled briefly in third as Royaltys Pearl took the field to a :28.3 quarter. Soon after the quarter-mile pole Jamieson sent Cambridge Kate after the lead and the filly was showing the way by the :59.2 half. Under pressure from Presto Change O around the final turn, Cambridge Kate reached the thee-quarters in 1:28.4 and then dug in through the stretch to secure a 1-1/4 length victory in a personal best 1:57.3. Angies Luckeylady closed well to be second and Presto Change O was third.

“She’s just perfect really, she does nothing wrong on the track and just goes,” said Jamieson of the fan favorite. “I had the chance to retake the lead easily tonight, so I did, and she did the rest.”

Carl Jamieson shares ownership of Cambridge Kate with Glengate K Farms and Dr. Robert Boyce. The daughter of E L Titan and former Ontario Sires Stakes competitor Aimees Image was a C$44,000 acquisition from last fall’s London Selected Yearling Sale and has recouped $65,405 through her first four starts.

While he may have missed out on a second win aboard Cambridge Kate, driver Louis Philippe Roy still made an appearance in the OSS winner’s circle, guiding HP Titania Runner to victory in the second $76,076 division. The second of three winners the 28-year-old would steer on Friday’s program, HP Titania Runner also marked the 1,000th career win for the native of Mont-Joli, Quebec.

Roy, who currently sits atop the OSS driver standings, eased HP Titania Runner away from post three and watched from mid-pack as Petro Hall rolled to a :28.3 opening quarter. Moving steadily up the outside behind Royal Rhythm as Petro Hall carried on to a :58.3 half and 1:28.2 three-quarters, HP Titania Runner turned for home with a clear view of the finish line and powered by the leaders to a 1:57.3 victory. Petro Hall settled for second, 1-1/2 length behind the fan favorite, and Champagne Jane closed hard to finish third.

“She’s a nice filly with a lot of speed. I had to be a little bit careful with her tonight to keep her trotting, but she wasn’t tired at the end, so I hope she keeps on showing more and more,” said Roy. “I’m happy for the owner-breeders. They are among the first people that gave me stakes drives while I was racing in Quebec, so to win Golds here with them is very nice.”

Roy steers the daughter of E L Titan and $443,545 winner Canaco Runner for owner-breeders Claude Hamel and Michel Damphousse and trainer Rene Bourassa. In two starts the filly has earned $63,270 and shares ownership of the top spot in the division standings with Cambridge Kate and Petro Hall, each filly tallying 100 points in the first three Gold events.

The 2-year-old trotting fillies will make their fourth Gold Series start at Flamboro Downs on Sept. 25.

Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Aug. 16) with the fourth Gold leg for the 3-year-old trotting fillies. Post time for the program is 7:10 p.m.